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Cite course materials in MLA

Learn how to cite course materials in MLA style. Follow correct templates for lectures, handouts, online files and classroom resources to reference sources accurately in your writing.

Check with your teacher or lecturer before including lecture/class material in the Works Cited list.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s).

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing The hierarchy of a society can be divided into several categories including … (Levine).
Direct quote According to Levine “hierarchy in business helps to streamline planning shot-term and long-term goals”.

Works cited

  • If permitted by your teacher or lecturer, online lectures and presentations are recoverable so they can be included in the reference list. Treat according to the publication type (e.g., video post, podcast, stand-alone document, etc.).
  • Give the full name of the lecturer in the author position and the last name in contributor position after ‘uploaded by’. However, if you know that someone else uploaded the content, then include the first name and last name of the person who uploaded the content.
  • Give the URL of the Learning Management System (e.g., moodle.federation.edu.au/).  Do not link to the specific Moodle shell or page of the PowerPoint or lecture recording.

Video recording of a lecture (online)

Reference format Example
Template Lecturer. “Title.” Website Name. Uploaded by last Name (First Name Last Name if different person uploaded file), Day Month Year, URL.
Works cited entry

Digby, Matthew. "Introduction to Film Editing." Moodle, uploaded by Caroline Levine, 10 Oct. 2023, moodle.federation.edu.

Levine, Caroline. “Hierarchy.” Blackboard, uploaded by Mary Smith, 10 Oct. 2017, blackboard.stonybrook.edu/. 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s).

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing In a recent lecture Nancy Drummond described various plays with fantasy characters that …
Direct quote “Romance and fantasy combine make for a touching scene throughout the play much to the delight of the audience” (Drummond).

Works cited

No reference entry required.   

Live classes, lectures and presentations are not recoverable so are not included in the reference list. Treat as personal communication, e.g. ‘… in a lecture on chaos theory (M. Green, personal communication, May 1, 2009) …’

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s).

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing Barrett explains that a good storyboard is dependent on … (Slide 2).
Direct quote “The first step in searching for literature includes an analysis of the research question for key words” (Price slide 4).

Works cited

  • Give the full name of the lecturer in the author position and the last name in contributor position after ‘uploaded by’. However, if you know that someone else uploaded the content, then include the first name and last name of the person who uploaded the content.
  • Give the URL of the Learning Management System (e.g., moodle.federation.edu.au/).  Do not link to the specific Moodle shell or page of the PowerPoint or lecture recording.
  • Form could be a Lecture, Tutorial, PowerPoint presentation, pdf document, etc.
Reference format Example
Template Lecturer's Last Name, First Name. Title of document. Learning Management System (e.g. Moodle), uploaded by last name (First Name Last Name if different person uploaded file). Day Month Year, URL. Form presentation.
Works cited entry

Barrett, Keith. Storyboarding. Moodle, uploaded by Barrett, 19 Jun. 2024, moodle.federation.edu. pdf document.

Price, Gemma. Searching for literature in Film Studies. Moodle, uploaded by Price,19 Apr. 2024, moodle.federation.edu.au/. PowerPoint presentation. 

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s).

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing The ethics of good business practice entails … (Jackson 2).
Direct quote According to Shirley Jackson “best practice in running any business ethically means …” (1).

Works cited

  • Give the full name of the lecturer in the author position and the last name in contributor position after ‘uploaded by’. However, if you know that someone else uploaded the content, then include the first name and last name of the person who uploaded the content.
  • Give the URL of the Learning Management System (e.g., moodle.federation.edu.au/).  Do not link to the specific Moodle shell or page of the PowerPoint or lecture recording.
Reference format Example
Template Author. “Title.”  Form for Course Name/code, created/written by name, Day Month Year, University, Place.
Works cited entry

Jackson, Shirley. “The Cost of Retribution.” Lecture notes for Ethics BUS123, created by Lee Huang, 5 Mar. 2019, QUT, Townsville.